Oct. 24, 2002

Court Examines Meaning of 'Religious Creed' in State Discrimination Statute

Focus Column - By Robyn Babcock - The California Fair Employment and Housing Act makes it an unlawful employment practice for employers to discriminate against a person based on the person's "religious creed" or a conflict between the person's "religious belief or observance and any employment requirement." Government Code Section 12940(a), (l). It is not always clear, however, if a particular belief system constitutes a religious creed within the meaning of the act.